Chapter 8

As I walked through the forest, I noticed that the trees were becoming more sparse. Along the way, I encountered a couple of elementals and some fairies. It is important to note that these small humanoids are not inherently magical, despite their ability to fly and glow at night. These traits are actually the result of forced mutations caused by the high elves. It is unclear whether these fairies were originally human or gnome, but many of the strange creatures that inhabit the dark forests are the result of experiments conducted by elitists seeking to gain knowledge. It is important to maintain objectivity when discussing these creatures and their origins. Many acres were cleared and the slaves sowed magical grass. The slaves were wood elves and other races that were considered inferior. Training with them was unpleasant as they often looked down on humans and sneered while displaying runes that humans could not utter. no human throat can, my throat is not, it was mutated with magic, that doesn't mean it didn't hurt, proof of that is that it wasn't done with anesthesia, the scar was one of the first things I learned to hide to look perfect in the eyes of the female elf I loved.

As the trees became scarce, I observed vast plains. The soil appeared cracked and eroded, with sporadic bushes. According to old maps, there are several oases before the mountain ranges. I packed only a couple of wineskins. If needed, I can produce water. However, I must expand the field significantly to absorb oxygen and hydrogen atoms without creating an unbreathable environment or harming the remaining population of the plains. Additionally, this could attract the attention of enemies of the wizards, as many of the wildest beasts were once guards of the laboratories, often against their will.

I spent the night in a cave located about ten kilometers from the forest. Although I could have gone further, I felt as though I was being followed. There were many of them, and while they appeared human, they did not give me a biological impression of being so. I placed the coffin inside the cave and closed it with an illusion to keep it out of the way. Afterward, I killed several desert lizards and cooked them over a fire. When the food is ready, I place it in front of me. While I eat, I admire the sunset that slowly spreads across the sky. At nightfall, I let the flames die down to embers. It is crucial to ensure that there is enough firewood, so I avoid moving it too much. I close my eyes, not to sleep, but to maintain my night vision. Watching the flames helps me achieve this.

 It is currently three o'clock and the silhouettes are already visible. They appear humanoid, but are small, measuring no more than one meter and ten centimeters. There are almost 20 of them and they are all eyeing the food, alternating suspicious glances towards me. It is clear that they are aware that I am armed. The hunger appears difficult to satisfy with the limited number of lizards available. During the assault, I expected to be attacked with spears or knives, but instead, they threw poorly aimed stones in an attempt to scare me off or get lucky. I repel only those who approach me. Some fall around me, but seeing that it has no effect, they begin to shout loudly and charge at me. With a single fluid motion, I rise and grasp my sword with both hands, drawing a diagonal arc upwards. With sufficient speed for the 'air' rune to activate on the blade, the blizzard fuels the ashes and transforms the air wave into a potent red-hot ash attack. This knocks them down while causing severe burns. Several of them begin to cry, as if I had denied them a precious toy.

I held them until the early morning with some dim light to better see the goblins. They did not resemble the vicious creatures from the legends and stories I read while preparing for the trip. Most of them were skinny and had pointed teeth, which seemed to be more of a problem than a benefit since they cannot grind grain or fruit. It is likely that they were designed by the high elves, who reduced their oxygen levels at birth. Perhaps the creators mutated many humans over the years to achieve the desired effect. The altered eyes only allow them to see in dark areas, while the pointed ears are a sign of the mutation they underwent. Their greenish color may also be a result of the mutation. It is possible that they produce small amounts of chlorophyll to compensate for the deficiencies of their carnivorous diet. 

 I covered the area with a field that blocked part of the sunlight, so I could talk to them and understand them. After they saw that there was no threat from my side, they began to ask me to release them. They were not tied up, but knowing that going out in the sun would cause them much pain, I indicated that I would do it. I invited them to hunt lizards and then taught them how to dig them out of the ground, under the stones, to stop them from hunting them in the open field and help them support themselves.

At noon I see in the distance a group of goblins coming towards us, just like the ones I have kept, they come naked and large blisters are easy to see when walking under the direct sun, I still wonder why they travel by day as they are creatures made for the night, but they are not coming alone, behind them comes a gnoll hunting them, the creature is almost 1.8 meters tall, dressed in tanned leather armor, armed with a wooden spear with a flint-tipped tip, With a dismissive gesture, a gnoll comes chasing them, the creatures hunted are no match even for humans, unless it catches them off guard, but goblins have nothing but their nails and sharp teeth, and those who come here do not have their hands free, I ask them if this happens often, most of them just look at the gnoll with an angry look, so I guess they are part of the diet of these beasts that were made to serve the dwarf wizards, based on the desert jackals they have a little intelligence, they are quite strong and brutal, but with a great tendency to malice, With two or three goblins, this animal could eat well for at least a few days, but it continues to hunt one after another, of the ten females I have seen, only half remain, some of the bravest take their bodies out sometimes and with tears of helplessness they return to the chromatic protection I offer them.

When the female five fall, they ask me to let them go, to help them fight, I ask them how many would live if they attacked him, none of them answer me, so I imagine that they know it is suicidal, I think of a way to support them, so I draw my sword again and invoke a base spell as tremor, they stir restlessly but I still do not finish, I add a rune of magnetic force to the effect so that all the weapons used by the mercenaries who have not returned begin to appear, only in the thirty radial meters of the field that I currently have extended several rusty knives, a couple of spears and one or two dwarf axes, then I extend a UV filter field in a radius of one kilometer, I tell them: 

Arm yourselves, defend yourselves with your lives and your strength, on the ground you will find weapons, you are no longer frightened beasts, you are an army that sees for its future, you know how to get food, it is time you knew how to preserve it. 

A single grimace of gratitude is drawn on their faces as they take the weapon they found and go to face the enemy, I leave them, I remove the illusion and go to the plains with my fists so tight that they hurt me, how is it possible that they did not think that their experiments could have children? They are mentally adolescent, they will never have complicated thoughts, but when they procreate, they don't know anything, so they abandon them... damn you all!